Aussie judo team return to University Campus

This Week saw the return of the Australian National Judo team to the University’s Walsall Campus.

The British Judo Association Centre of Excellence, based at the campus, is hosting this year’s Australian Commonwealth Games team for a pre Commonwealth Games training camp.

The Judo team have been visiting the British Judo Centre prior to travelling to Glasgow to compete in the Commonwealth Games.

A total of 22 people have travelled from Australia to use the University of Wolverhampton as a base to rest and prepare for their upcoming challenge.

14 players, along with coaches and support staff will also be staying at the University’s student accommodation until they depart for Glasgow on Friday 18 July.

Dave Elmore the Universities Judo Development officer said “It has been great to have the Australian judo team here in Walsall again for such a prestigious event as the Commonwealth Games.

“Their return is a testament to the facilities, staff and athletes that are based at the centre.

“The team say they feel they have everything they need to make them feel at home despite being thousands of miles away from Australia.

“A happy athlete is usually a better performing athlete, but let’s hope the friendly welcome doesn’t extend to when they come up against English Judo players when the competition begins.”

The team are able to use the BJA Centre of Excellence as a holding camp when visiting Europe for International competitions as they feel it has world class facilities and training partners that prepare them well for upcoming events.

The University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall Sports Centre is one of the few British Judo Centres of Excellence in the UK, as recognised by the British Judo Association and aims to nurture and develop talent.

The Australian Judo Team previously attended the University campus in the two weeks leading up to London 2012.